Current Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga has won the National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player Award. 2 years in a row Wednesday after leading the league in goals this season.
Chawinga became the first player to win MVP in consecutive seasons. Chawinga was sidelined in October with a torn adductor muscle in his right leg, but he had 15 goals and three assists in 23 games and won the NWSL’s Golden Boot award.
Six of her 15 goals were game-winning goals, matching her own record set last year and becoming the first in the league. The 27-year-old tied the league record for points in eight consecutive NWSL regular season games.
The Ballon d’Or candidate from Malawi became the fastest player to reach 25 regular season goals in May.
Current finished the regular season at the top of the league standings, setting NWSL records with 65 points and 21 wins.
The NWSL’s 2025 Season Awards will be presented Wednesday afternoon in San Jose, Calif., and the Washington Spirit will face Gotham FC in Saturday’s league championship game.
On Wednesday, Gotham’s Lily Leal, who was selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the final two games of the year, was named Rookie of the Year. She played in every game for Gotham this season.
The Spirit’s Tara McCune was named Defender of the Year and Kansas City’s Lorena was named Goaltender of the Year. Manaka Matsukubo of North Carolina Courage was named Midfielder of the Year.
Bev Yanez, who led Racing Louisville to its first-ever playoff appearance, won the Coach of the Year award. The 37-year-old is the first former NWSL player to win the award.
“I’m very grateful to the team for believing in me and trusting me. I couldn’t be here without them,” Yanez said.
Sam Hiatt of the Portland Thorns received the Lauren Holiday Impact Award for his work with Candlelighters Oregon, which will receive a $50,000 donation from Nationwide to support children with cancer and their families.
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